Schmitt writes that because of Title IX and a suit by NOW that prompted the Little League to eliminate mentions of "boys" and "manhood" from its charter, his daughter is able to be her team's Most Valuable Catcher with very little consciousness of the fact that she's also the only girl. He thinks Title IX has had other, more subtle benefits for her generation as well. Schmitt writes,

This generation of children is unfailingly decent to one another, respectful of one another's different personalities, and attentive to and proud of one another's successes. The petty cruelties of childhood are rare. Political scientists have marveled at the distinctive attitudes of "millennials," born roughly between 1982 and 2003. (Thus, a single generation seems to encompass both my daughter and many of my co-workers!) They are characterized above all by tolerance but also by cooperation, liberal political views, and respect for public institutions. They form the basis not just for the Obama Democratic coalition but for the hope of a progressive politics in the future. And the kind of equality promoted by Title IX surely has had something to do with that.

I'm a little skeptical that "millennials" (a generation that apparently includes not only Schmitt's daughter and coworkers, but also my brother, who played Little League baseball through most of the nineties, and me) are actually more "decent" than other people. But I fervently hope Schmitt's right that the drive for fairness for girl athletes has led to an across-the-board rise in progressivism and the respect of differences. There's plenty of evidence that millennials still have some work to do in creating a culture of gender equality, but I do notice that my brother's friends are more comfortable identifying as feminists than even my friends were at their age. And my brother has been, since his teens, more open-minded and quicker to call out prejudice for what it is than most of the boys I grew up with. Some of this is probably because he went to a very progressive high school, but some of it may come from the fact that he played Little League with girls.

Of course, those girls, like Schmitt's daughter, were always outnumbered, and girls' equality, in sports and elsewhere, still has a ways to go. But his experience with his daughter's team makes Schmitt hopeful that social change can happen more quickly than some liberals fear. He writes:

[M]any liberals have become wary of getting too far ahead of the culture. We know that same-sex marriage will eventually be legal everywhere, and we fight efforts to ban it, but many of us are also hesitant about pushing the point too hard in areas of the country that don't seem ready. Sensible liberal legal scholars worry that Roe v. Wade (1973) got ahead of changing attitudes on reproductive rights. If we were transported back to 1972, some of us might worry that schoolchildren and their parents weren't ready for such an abrupt transformation as Title IX. [...] But as I watch my daughter do something that would have been unlikely for a girl of my generation, and see all that goes with it, I'm endlessly thankful to those litigators and legislators of the early 1970s who weren't at all afraid to give the culture and its assumptions a shove in the name of fairness.

Schmitt has a point — liberals can be timid about social change, but sometimes the culture needs a shove. And waiting for people to be "ready" for change can sometimes be an excuse for inaction. I'm not quite as sanguine about the impact of Title IX as Schmitt is — the popularity of girls' sports, for instance, hasn't traveled upward to women's sports. But I am heartened by the obvious pride with which Schmitt views his daughter's athletic achievements, and the importance he places on opportunities for girls like her. Playing alongside girls may make boys more respectful, but having a daughter who's an athlete — or who tries to enter any sphere once reserved for boys — can open dads' minds as well. If Schmitt is representative of other "Title IX dads," the "millennial" generation might be getting a pretty awesome upbringing.

Title IX Dad [The American Prospect]

[New York, November 4. Image via Getty]

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Yankees fans celebrate outside Yankee Stadium following the New York Yankees victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Six of the 2009 MLB World Series on November 4, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City.The Yankees defeated the Phillies 7-3 to win their 27th championship. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

• According to a Gallup poll released earlier this year, New England is the least religious region in America, which is partially why Evangelists are targeting the apathetic Northern states. Some Christian denominations view New England as a "mission field," and MSNBC interviews several missionaries seeking to convert those living in and around Boston. From a New Englander born and bred: Good luck with that. •  The Georgia man accused of attacking an African-American woman outside of a Cracker Barrel while screaming racial slurs has been released on bail. Troy Dale West Jr. faces charges ranging from false imprisonment to cruelty to children, but no word yet on whether he will be charged with a hate crime. •  Soon after the election, 67% of Americans reported being "optimistic" about the future of race relations. But the so-called "Obama effect" didn't last long, and the percentage of optimistic folk has already slipped down to 56, which is only one point higher than in December 1963. • In his new memoir The Audacity to Win David Plouffe, who managed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, says Obama seriously considered asking Hillary Clinton to be his running mate. He writes; "[W]hat surprised me at [our first meeting to discuss the vice presidency] was that Obama was clearly thinking more seriously about picking Hillary Clinton than Ax and I had realized. He said if his central criterion measured who could be the best VP, she had to be included in that list. She was competent, could help in Congress, would have international bona fides and had been through this before, albeit in a different role. He wanted to continue discussing her as we moved forward." • A U.S. District Court judge has dismissed another one of Orly Taitz's birther lawsuits. She asked the court to demand President Obama produce more documentation proving that he was born in the United States and to shut down the federal government and hold an election if he couldn't. The judge said it was unconstitutional for the courts to "effectively overthrow a sitting president." • Obama For America sent out a link to a commercial paid for by the DNC that features Sarah Palin's various health care lies followed by a clip of her saying "quit making things up." • The House Democrats healthcare reform bill unveiled today says, "Only private premium dollars can be used to provide abortion coverage. Where abortion coverage is provided, funds for this purpose must be segregated from other funds, including affordability credits," which won't satisfy pro-lifers who say private premiums and government subsidies given to low-income Americans can't be isolated and segregated. • New York Governor David Paterson has signed a bill that enhances the penalty for injuring an abortion provider, staff member, volunteer or patient. The legislation is a response to the shooting of Dr. George Tiller, and makes physically injuring someone obtaining or providing an abortion a class E felony rather than a misdemeanor. • Scientists in New Zealand are working on developing an ice cream called ReCharge that will help relieve the side-effects of chemotherapy in cancer patients. The "medical dessert" uses active ingredients from dairy products to relieve diarrhea, anemia and lack of appetite. • Susan Finkelstein, the woman accused of trying to trade sex for World Series tickets, will be given two tickets to Game 3 by a Philadelphia car dealer and the host of Chio in the Morning on WIRED-FM. • According to the CDC's Prevention's Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report released today, 11 percent of the U.S. population reports not getting enough sleep. 12.4 percent of women say they don't sleep enough compared to 9.9 percent of men. • A study by Trojan ranks the University of South Carolina as the nation's top university in sexual health. The ratings were based on a poll of students conducted on Facebook and data from on-campus student health centers. One big element of the school's sexual health awareness program are peer-to-peer groups sponsored by Student Health and Violence Prevention. • Ahmed Muhamed Dhore, a Somalian who claims he is 112 years old, says he has realized a "dream" by marrying a 17-year-old bride. He has married five times before, but three wives are dead. Dhore already has 13 children, the oldest of whom is 80, but says he would like more with his new bride, Safiya Abdulle. •

Image via Peter Rivera's Flickr

[New York, October 28. Image via Getty]

NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: First lady Michelle Obama (R) and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, stand on the field prior to Game One of the 2009 MLB World Series between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2009 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

[Reading, Pennsylvania; October 27. Image via INF]

[Bronx, October 25. Image via Getty]

[Anaheim, October 22. Image via Getty]

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 22: An Angel fan watches Game Five of the ALCS between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Angel Stadium on October 22, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

[Philadelphia, October 21. Image via Getty]

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 21: Fans celebrate the Philadelphia Phillies defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-4 to advance to the World Series in Game Five of the NLCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 21, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

[Anaheim, October 19. Image via Getty]

ANAHEIM, CA - OCTOBER 19: An Angels fan holds up rally monkies during the game between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the New York Yankees in Game Three of the ALCS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Angel Stadium on October 19, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

[Philadelphia, October 8. Image via Getty]

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 08: A fan of the Philadelphia Phillies has a Phillies logo painted on her face prior to Game Two of the NLDS against the Colorado Rockies during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park on October 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

• Doctors from Kansas State University advise that pet owners count calories for their overweight pets. According to Dr. Susan Nelson, treats should only make up 10% of a pet's diet, and owners should follow the serving guidelines provided on pet food packaging. • This summer, 12-year-old Jennifer Valdivia caught the Ryan Howard's 200th home run at a Phillies game. Immediately after the game, Howard asked her to trade the ball for an autographed, brand new baseball. She agreed, but her lawyer, Norm Kent, is suing the Phillies for taking away such a valuable piece of property from an unknowing kid. •  Under a new curriculum, Scottish children as young as four will be learning elements of sex education in school. The program is designed to build upon knowledge year by year, says Maureen McKenna. "What we have is a broad curriculum which deals with emotions, friendships, self-esteem and respect as well as physical development and sexual health." •  Rite Aid has changed their formally paternalistic policy on pregnant women and flu shots and will now allow them access to the vaccine without a prescription. • Australian Labor MP Belinda Neal said that her recent decision to stay with her husband, who, it has been revealed, had an affair with at 26-year-old, is a "feminist" choice. "I made a decision to work within my marriage but certainly I don't see myself as some downtrodden person who is being submissive," she said. "I see it as a powerful decision to take control of my marriage and a joint decision to work to improve it." •  Bill O'Reilly says the reason Michele Bachmann gets criticized so much is because she's so "good-looking." • And not, presumably, because she says things like this: "the American people are looking to voices like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck." • A female religious leader in Egypt has proposed modifying the country's marriage certificate to allow women to list their status as "never been married" in addition to the current categories of "Virgin, "divorced," or "widowed." She says this would protect the honor of rape victims. • Women are much more likely than men to be kicked out of the military under the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and the discrepancy is especially pronounced in the Air Force. • A new female condom now available in the US is thinner, cheaper, and less likely to squeak during sex. • According to a recent report released by the World Economic Forum, "No country in the world has yet to eliminate the gender gap." They cite "gender fatigue" as one possible reason that the gender gap persists. Workers are accustomed to thinking that their organization is different, that they do not recognize examples of sexism in the workplace. • 

[Los Angeles, October 7. Image via Getty]

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 07: A fan cheers on the Los Angeles Dodgers against the St. Louis Cardinals in Game One of the NLDS during the 2009 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium on October 7, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

[Anaheim, September 28. Image via Getty]

ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 28: Fans of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hold a sign as they celebrate winning the American League West title inthe baseball game against Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on September 28, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

It's not as if baseball is suffering from a lack of women in the stands; as Stephanie Sy of ABCNews notes, "female fans make up more than 45 percent of MLB fans, more than any other professional sport." So the focus on women, it seems, is less about attracting them to the sport and more about cashing in on their fandom by offering "female friendly" programs and perks.

Dodgers CEO Jamie McCourt, a woman, has set up a program called "Dodgers WIN" which stands for "Women's Initiative Network," and bills itself as "a network of initiatives designed to bring women closer to the game of baseball, and to integrate baseball into women's lifestyles." So far, the program has offered the aforementioned yoga night, and Stitch N' Pitch session, and according to Sy, "at all home games, a WIN tent is erected where soap stars and other celebrities make appearances." There are also Dodgers WIN broadcasts every Wednesday, hosted by Jeannie Zelasko, that cater specifically to women.

Does this strike anyone else as a pink hat on steroids? Sure, I understand that teams (and advertisers) would want to reach out to women, but it's a bit insulting that they think female baseball fans need yoga nights, female-specific broadcasts (whatever that means) and soap opera stars to get excited about the big game. I don't go to a baseball game to do yoga or knit or meet the cast of Days of Our Lives, I go to a baseball game to watch a baseball game.

If the Dodgers, and the MLB, really want to "integrate baseball into women's lifestyles," perhaps they should recognize that for many women, going to the game, drinking a beer, and crying for hours on end (I'm a Mariners fan) is already a perfectly acceptable lifestyle, and we don't need to be pandered to to head to the park and have a good time. McCourt appears to have good intentions, in that she really does seem to want to get women to feel more connected to the game, but a quote she gave Sy, "I always say that behind every man is a woman with her checkbook," makes me a bit wary.

McCourt says that the money brought in by WIN might "eventually be donated to women's charities," and if that's the case, it's a horse of a different color, in that I wouldn't mind a night dedicated to raising money for a good cause. But until then, I'm skeptical of the real motivations here, and I fear it's just another attempt to slap a pink label on something and sell it to "the ladies." Sometimes, the best way to reach your fans is to just treat them like fans, regardless of their gender.

L.A. Dodgers Cater To Loyal Female Fan Base [ABCNews]
[Dodgers WIN]

[The Bronx, September 9. Image via Getty]

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: A fan holds a sign during the New York Yankees game against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 9, 2009 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. Derek Jeter got his 2,721st base hit, tying Lou Gehrig's all-time club record. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Berman's thoughtful meditation is prompted by British writer Dominic Lawson's assertion that sports should be unsegregated, freed from the "apartheid" that leads to controversies like that surrounding Caster Semenya. And in a theoretical sense, you can see his points; the distinctions can become very tricky - and very fraught. (Although, on a social level, track is already one of the most integrated.) Says Berman:

What should a "woman" be, for the purposes of international sports? Should socially constructed gender and biological sex be part of the equation? Should believable-looking girl parts be enough to pass the test? (And, if so, what do we do about transwomen athletes?) Or is this extensive battery of medical and psychological testing necessary? And, perhaps most important of all, is enforcing whatever standard we choose worth publicly destroying the lives and identities of athletes who have only ever known themselves to be women?

But at the same time, says Berman, would such a proposal really achieve much? It could even, she suggests,

have a dramatically negative effect on women athletes, from the elementary-school level all the way up through Olympians. If female medalists become rare, and if only a few young women each year make their high school's co-ed soccer team, it's easy to imagine girls becoming alienated from sports. Why even try if you're so unlikely to achieve anything you can be proud of?

I agree with this point - and I'd add that there are a lot of social and communal benefits to single-sex sports, perhaps especially for young women. In addition to the obvious benefits of bonding, leadership and mutual inspiration - to say nothing of healthy competition - there's a lot to be said for creating an oasis from the highly-charged sexuality of adolescence - whatever the orientations of the folks involved (since I think the kind of public expressions or pressures I'm referring to tend to be pretty heteronormative at the high school level.) Of course, though, this point works a lot better in a post Title IX perfect world where women's sports are given respect and girls are given the same encouragement and equivalent opportunities. And frankly, I'd worry less about making adult sports co-ed than about encouraging a true equality; it's only "apartheid" if you consider one group inferior.

Women should obviously be given a chance to play football with men when there's no equivalent girl's team and not enough interest to found one - at any rate, they should have the chance to try out. But it's important to remember that it goes both ways. In my progressive high school, there was a boy who wanted to play field hockey and, since there was no equivalent boys' team, he won the right to do so. At 14, he was about the size of most of his teammates and opponents. Three years in, let's just say the team was dominant and there were grumblings from rival schools.

The issue's a lot less complicated at the child's level, where kids are still on an equal physical playing field - literally, too, since the 1974 lawsuit forcing Little League to admit girls. The fact that girls are still underrepresented is a good demonstration that Lawson's utopian suggestions wouldn't solve everything. As Bob Cook writes on TrueSlant, the fact that there are two girls ( Katie Reyes, and Bryn Stonehouseat) at this year's Little League World Series is notable. But, he adds, there's a "groundswell of support" for those girls who wish to play baseball rather than softball. Says he, "As it turns out, there are more female-only baseball organizations forming for the benefit of girls who would like to play the sport without having to put up with the male bullshit. Part of the ultimately unsuccessful bid to get baseball back for the 2016 Olympics was to have men's and women's baseball events." And that, at least, is equal-opportunity discrimination.

The End Of Sex-Segregated Sports [Salon]
No Sexing, Please – Let's All Race Together [TimesUK]
Girls Play Baseball, Too [TrueSlant]

[Flushing, New York; August 16. Image via Getty]

NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: A fan of the New York Mets holds a banner in reference to injured player David Wright during the game against the San Francisco Giants on August 16, 2009 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)